After a month of delays, City manager Joe Pennachetti’s long-awaited report on the pros and cons of a Toronto casino were released Monday.
While much of the report focuses on the downtown integrated casino resort in Gaming Zone C1, the report does support an expansion at Woodbine Racetrack as part of Gaming Zone C2 with the recommendation that:
“City Council support an expansion of the gaming site in the OLG C2 zone at the existing Woodbine location, including additional slot machines and the introduction of live gaming tables, subject to the terms and conditions, and authorize the City Manager to enter into a hosting agreement with the OLG, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, the terms of which shall include a commitment by the OLG to satisfy these conditions and which shall be in place for as long as the site is a gaming site.”
The report will be up for debate at a special meeting of Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee next Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, followed by a presentation to full Council in May.
Woodbine Entertainment Group President and CEO Nick Eaves and Jane Holmes, VP Corporate Affairs along with other Industry supporters, will speak to the committee to reinforce the report’s support of expansion at Woodbine.
Based on this positive recommendation, Jane Holmes is cautiously optimistic about the outcome for Woodbine. “We have had our voices heard at the public consultations. We have demonstrated support for Woodbine with over 600 letters of support and 10,000 petition signatures. We are talking to Councilors. Still we cannot rest until the “Yes” vote is in.
We are asking our employees, horse people and community partners to join us on Monday [April 15th] for a rally at City Hall to let the Councilors see the faces of Woodbine.”
Bus transportation will be available to anyone interested in attending the rally outside City Hall. WEG’s message will be clear. A WEG operated casino at Woodbine and Mohawk are critical for a sustainable future for horse racing.
Bus Schedule:
Mohawk Racetrack – 1 bus departing at 10:00 am
Woodbine Grandstand – 2 buses departing the employee entrance at 10:30 am
Woodbine Backstretch – 2 buses departing the east stable gate at 10:30 am
Full staff report on New Casino & Convention Development in Toronto is available here.
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